What should I expect when I visit?
Some background information
If you aren’t at all familiar with the Episcopal Church, here are some good resources on the Web to answer some of the basic questions that you might have:
- The Visitors’ Center at the Episcopal Church Web site
- Start Here at Anglicans Online
How should I dress?
You can take a look at our photo album on Flickr to get an idea of how our parishioners dress during services and social events. People tend to wear whatever is most comfortable for them, whether it’s a jacket and tie or a t-shirt and jeans.
Just don’t come to church in long, ornate, gold-embroidered robes – that’s what our priests wear, and it could get confusing if everyone showed up dressed that way.
Are you going to make me stand up and be welcomed in the middle of the service, or ask me to join the choir on my first visit?
No. We’re honored that you chose to visit us and the last thing that we want to do is embarrass you. People will welcome you to the church, either before the service or when we greet one another during the Peace, and you’ll be invited to join us for coffee downstairs afterward; but you won’t be pressured in any way.
What if I have kids?
Children are very welcome here. Our services do have periods of silent contemplation, so if you have very young, restless kids with you, you might want to bring along a soft toy or a quiet activity such as a coloring book to keep their attention during those times. But we won’t get in a lather if your child makes noise – that’s just what children do.
Children’s Sunday School is held downstairs in the church undercroft during the first part of the 10:30 service. Younger children and infants are cared for in the playroom in our Education building. The children rejoin their parents right before the Offertory Procession.
Worship style
The type of Christian spirituality that you’ll find here at Redeemer is deeply rooted in our Catholic and Anglican heritage. Our church life follows the seasons of the church year – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Our services are ordered according to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. We light candles, burn incense (sometimes), ring bells, get sprinkled with holy water, cross ourselves, and celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday. On Saturday nights we have the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a quiet, contemplative service of silence and meditation.
But as Father John once said during a service, “We’re celebrating the Eucharist, not crowning the Queen.” There’s solemnity and joy, but also laughing and joking and the occasional mixup.
What are these books, and how do I use them?
We use three books during worship: the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal, and a supplemental book of hymns called Wonder, Love & Praise.
The Book of Common Prayer was created hundreds of years ago in England during a time of intense religious conflict, to help Catholics and Protestants worship together in a united Church of England. The Episcopal Church in the United States carries on this tradition. The BCP contains prayers and liturgies both ancient and new. With it, anyone entering a worship service in any Episcopal church can quickly and easily join in.
The bulletin that you received at the door will tell you which pages to turn to during the service. Your neighbors in the pews will be happy to help you out if things get confusing.
The Offertory Procession (or, “Hey! Where’s everybody going?”)
Here’s one thing that we do that you may not have seen at other churches. After passing the peace and singing the day’s offertory hymn, we walk down the main aisle and up the side walkway to a small table. The table holds the collection baskets, a plate of Communion wafers, an empty plate, two small jugs of wine, and an empty jug.
When we get to the table, we place our offerings in a basket. Then we take a wafer from one plate, pray silently over it, and place it in the empty plate. We continue on to the wine, pouring a small amount from one jug into the empty jug, again saying a brief, silent prayer.
In this way we invest the bread and wine of the Eucharist with whatever hopes, fears, successes, or failures are weighing on us, so that they may be transformed into the Body of Christ.
Holy Eucharist
“[T]he Eucharist isn’t a performance at which we are an audience of spectators. It is a mysterious and powerfully transforming encounter with God. We are called to be active participants in the eucharistic liturgy, so that God’s power and grace may be manifest in our lives.” — from Pray the Eucharist: Private Prayers for the Liturgy
The Holy Eucharist, also known as the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or Mass, is central to our Sunday worship service. (When the choir is present it will be listed in the schedule as a Choral Eucharist.)
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion. If you are not a baptized Christian, please feel free to come forward with us to receive a blessing from the priest.
We believe that in the bread and wine of the Eucharist, our Lord is present among us. We do use real wine at the Eucharist – not grape juice! – mixed with water.
How do I take Communion?
It may look intimidating, but participating in the Holy Eucharist is literally as easy as eating and drinking.
When you get to the front of the line, step close to the priest with your hands out and palms up. He will place the wafer in your outstretched hands, saying, “The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven.” You may eat the bread there (most do), or carry it with you to the chalice bearer to be dipped in the wine (called intiction.)
If you’re there for a blessing instead, cross your arms over your chest in an X to let the priest know that you won’t be taking Communion.
When you reach the chalice bearer, he or she will offer you the cup to drink from, with the words, “The Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation.” Help the chalice bearer guide the cup to your lips and take a drink. Or you can hand the wafer to the bearer, and he or she will dip it in the wine and place it on your tongue.
Any other questions we can answer for you?
You can email the church office at office@redeemer-kenmore.org or call (425) 486-3777. Or feel free to drop in on a service and talk to us in person. We’re friendly.